QUADRATIC ELECTROOPTIC RESPONSE OF A CONJUGATED PORPHYRIN POLYMER

We report electroabsorption measurements of chi((3))(-omega; 0, 0, ome ga) for a new conjugated porphyrin polymer formed by the edge-linking of zinc porphyrin macrocyles through conjugated acetylenic bridges. Th e polymer is solution processed into thin film form and experiments pe rformed on the films indicate a very large nonlinearity, an order of m agnitude larger than we have previously measured in conjugated polymer s such as poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and poly(2,5-thienylene vinylene) . There is clear evidence of the extension of conjugation through the acetylenic bridges. Comparison is made between results obtained for th e polymer, and its monomer and dimer analogues dispersed in an inert p olymer matrix.